MIDLAND VALLEY 35 BROOKLAND-CAYCE 24

GRANITEVILLE — It was a back-and-forth battle with high stakes in Graniteville as Midland Valley (5-3, 2-1 Region 5-AAA) and Brookland-Cayce (6-2, 1-2 Region 5-AAA) were both trying not to lose ground in the region and make their road to the playoffs more difficult. The game had five lead changes, and in the end Midland Valley scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to prevail with a 35-24 victory.

Midland valley head coach Rick Knight said he considered the game to be the Mustangs’ first playoff game.

“We had to win this one to have a shot,” Knight said. “Now if we can win next week, we can play Strom Thurmond for a region championship again.”

Brookland-Cayce head coach Rusty Charpia was not pleased with the outcome of the game, as his team saw it’s momentum halted on a crucial drive in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats had a long pass play called back, and the drive resulted in one of two fourth quarter turnovers bye Brookland-Cayce.

“We got cheated,” Charpia said after the game. “I can’t wait to get the film and send it in to Bruce (Hulion SCHSL commissioner of officials). The official on their side, obviously... He’s from this area, He threw the flag after the play. We saw it. A long passing play puts us in scoring position, we’re going to win the game, and he throws a flag, it’s obvious.”

The drive ended with Kyle DeHayes putting a big hit on Brookland-Cayce quarterback Zeke Walker and jarring the ball loose. Michael Baynham recovered the fumble, and the Mustangs never looked back from then on.

Charpia also took exception to one of Daniel Carr’s two rushing touchdowns.

“He called a touchdown even when they didn’t score,” Charpia said. “There really ain’t nothing else to say other than, we got cheated.”

Carr was the catalyst for the Mustangs he had a part in four of the Mustangs’ five touchdowns on the night. Carr finished the game with 220 passing yards on 14 of 20 passes and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 112 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on the ground.

Knight had lofty praise for his signal caller after the game. Carr made several big plays when it seemed the Bearcats had him stopped in the backfield.

“Good gracious, I want to see the one who’s better than he is as far as extending plays,” Knight said. “He’s done a tremendous job for us, and he made the offense move at times it seemed like we had nothing.”

Carr’s counterpart, Walker, rushed for three touchdowns of his own, to keep Brookland-Cayce close. He seemed to be finding a rhythm before being knocked out of the game on the fumble play.

Knight was hoping the defensive effort rolls over into the rest of the year.

“I’m hoping we can build on it for the rest of the season,” Knight said of the defense. “We’re going to have to stop some people in order to win and that’s been our Achilles heel so far. We’ve been having to outscore people so much that the offense never gets a break.”

The Mustang’s will now turn their sights to Airport. Brookland-Cayce will travel to Swansea.

Eric Russell covers sports for the Aiken Standard. He graduated from USC Aiken in 2012 with a degree in communications.

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